Daily Readings - Mon May 18 2020
Acts
11So, setting sail from Troas, we made a direct voyage to Samothrace, and the following day to Neapolis,12and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city some days.13And on the Sabbath day we went outside the gate to the riverside, where we supposed there was a place of prayer, and we sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.14One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.15And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
John
1"I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.2They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.3And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.4But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter two powerful moments of faith and grace. The first reading from Acts tells the story of Lydia, a wealthy merchant from Thyatira, who becomes one of the first converts to Christianity in Europe. Paul and his companions arrive in Philippi, and on the Sabbath, they encounter Lydia by the river, where she is gathered with other women for prayer. The Lord opens her heart to Paul’s preaching, and she, along with her household, is baptized. This moment marks the beginning of the Church’s expansion into Europe, showing how the Holy Spirit works through ordinary people in extraordinary ways.
The Gospel reading from John takes us to Jesus’ farewell discourse, where He prepares His disciples for the challenges they will face after His departure. Jesus speaks of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will come to testify about Him and guide the disciples in their mission. He warns them that they will face persecution and expulsion from the synagogues, but He reassures them that the Spirit will give them the strength to endure. These words remind us that following Christ is not without cost, but with the Spirit’s help, we can remain faithful even in the face of adversity.
Both readings highlight the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church and in our personal lives. In Acts, the Spirit opens Lydia’s heart to receive the Gospel, while in John, the Spirit is promised as a guide and defender for the disciples. These passages remind us that our faith is not just a human effort but is sustained by the divine presence of the Spirit. As we go about our daily lives, we are called to remain open to the Spirit’s prompting, just like Lydia, and to trust in His strength when we face challenges. Let us pray for the courage to bear witness to Christ, knowing that the Spirit is always with us, guiding and sustaining us on our journey of faith.